The distinctively-colored leaves of the Hydrangeas
aspera ‘Plum Passion.’

By Bob Gilbert

Currently, there is a trend among gardeners to lean toward adding only native plants to their collections and landscapes. Of course, this is not a bad idea, but it can be considered limiting. I once was at a garden club meeting and someone said to me “I am new at gardening, do not know much except that I am only going to grow native plants.” These thoughts are re-enforced daily by roadside examples of invasiveness, Kudzu, Japanese Honeysuckle, Privet, Nandina and others. These plants were introduced a long time ago and had not been thoroughly tested and evaluated. And, some of these nonnatives brought with them insects and diseases that have no natural controls in their new locations.

I think it is accurate to say that these mistakes from the past have taught us good lessons. Today, plants imported from Asia are meticulously controlled and tested. Live plants from those regions of the world have to be bare rooted so that soil pathogens are left behind. I am familiar with a bonsai nursery in Mississippi that imports bonsai plants from Asia. The plants are first inspected carefully and then put in special quarantine greenhouses for two years to make sure there are no imported insects and diseases. These imports are so popular that there are long lines to make purchases, even knowing there is a two year wait to take a purchase home.

Scott McMahan from Clermont, Ga., recently presented a program to the Southern Appalachian Plant Society. McMahan is a nurseryman and a modern plant explorer. He shared with us the excitement of his travels to countries like Japan, Vietnam, China, and Bhutan. The object of these trips was to explore very remote areas for new unknown or little known plants. These places are not easy to get to and harder to live in. What surprised me was that these explorations were planned during the season when seeds were forming. Live plants were not collected. Specimens were sampled by collecting a small section of a leaf, stem, root and flower. These were then dried and pressed for further study and identification once back to the U.S.

What they collected were seeds. These were put in small envelopes and carefully sealed and labeled. When back into the U.S., these seeds were inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under a microscope to make sure there were no seeds with holes that might harbor an insect, or anything else. Every seed, each one was inspected. McMahan said the inspectors hated to see us coming because this was a labor-intensive process.

The modern plant explorer-collector does not come home with pockets stuffed with live invasive plants. In the natural environment, growth habits are studied. If a plant appears to be a rampant grower, seeds from it are not collected.

Back home, the seeds are distributed to a very small and select group of nurserymen that are well known for their propagation abilities and their integrity. Growth habits and hardiness are studied and recorded for a number of years. The results might be an entirely new plant for ornamental purposes or for agriculture. The new plant might expand the genetic pool of an already existing genus. For example crossing a new species with already established ones might improve the cold hardiness.

One of the people McMahan travels with is Dan Hinkley. Hinkley is from the Northwest and developed a nursery called Heronswood. He also developed a garden with almost 10,000 species. For 25 years, he has been exploring all over the world looking for new, unusual and choice plants. Recently, Hinkley sold Heronswood to Burpee Seed Company along with the catalogue mailing list.

The catalog is one of the most extensive mail-order plant lists in the world. Fortunately, Hinkley is still exploring. Monrovia Nursery has developed a collection of “Dan Hinkley Introductions.” Among the new introductions are a hardy Schefflera, a fragrant Pachysandea, new varieties of Viburnums, Deutzia, Mondo Grass, hardy Fuchsias and lots of others.

Also, he introduced Hydrangea aspera “Plum Passion” that has large, velvety purple leaves. About 15 years ago, I was in a public garden in Vancouver and spotted a hydrangea with dark purple leaves that looked like velvet. For years I tried in vane to find this plant. I had ordered and grew every aspera I could find. All had green, velvety leaves. I finally concluded I had imagined this plant. I now realize it was a Hinkley introduction that was being tested and was not on the market yet.

Mankind has a history of worldwide searches for new and unusual plants. That was what Bartram was up to when he traveled in our area in Western North Carolina. His collections were sent to England. Today, modern explorers have learned the lesions of plant invasiveness, disease and insect introductions. McMahon, Hinkley and others, carefully select seeds to bring back from their travels and thoughtfully test these potential introductions before we see or hear about them. Like the Hydrangea aspera “Plum Passion,” it could be years of testing before they hit the market.

We have wonderful and interesting native plants in this country. But there is a world of other safe options today that can make our landscapes and gardens even more interesting and fun.

Hydrangeas aspera “Plum Passion” is interesting with beautiful unique leaves and great lace cap blooms. When I look at it, I am reminded of Dan Hinkley and the Van- Dusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver where I first saw it. Imagine what Dan Hinkley remembers about “Plum Passion.”

See for yourself by going to www.Monrovia.com for Hydrangea “Plum Passion,” where there is a video of Hinkley describing this plant.

McMahan Rare Plant Nursery is located in Clermont, Ga., phone (770) 983-3666.

Dr. Bob Gilbert’s articles are being reprinted with the permission of the Franklin Press in Franklin, North Carolina. Dr. Bob Gilbert is co-founder of Smith Gilbert Gardens, Kennesaw, Georgia.

I love brunch!!!  I love everything about it including both the preparation and entertaining aspect plus the wonderful food traditions that accompany it.    Eggs Benedict, one of my favorite things to fix and eat was a staple in our home at holidays and special occasions.  After moving to Savannah, one beautiful Sunday morning on River Street I ordered Eggs Benedict without reading the menu well.  When the waiter delivered my dish, I was surprised to see that the usual Canadian bacon had been replaced by a scrumptious crab cake.  I converted and have never looked back.  Now, whenever I prepare this dish, it is fresh crab cakes for me all the time!

Spring is the perfect time to host a brunch for all your friends or family.  Start off with very cold Prosecco mixed with fresh orange juice.  Serve Grapefruit Brule, Asparagus and Spinach Frittata, along with a hot fresh biscuit with a piece of country ham on the biscuit.

Here are a couple of the recipes:

Grapefruit Brule – I think I first made this in the 10^th grade in what used to be called “Home Ec”

1/3 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
3 or 4 ruby red grapefruits

Preheat a broiler.  Position an oven rack in the top third of the oven.  In a small bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon.  Halve each grapefruit.  Using a paring knife, cut around the edge of the grapefruit and then between the segments.  Arrange halves on a baking sheet or broiler pan.  Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the sections and then place under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until the sugar is golden brown and bubbly.  Keeping the oven door open a bit will help prevent burning.  Watch closely, as sugar burns quickly.

Because I believe in using the freshest ingredients available this Frittata recipe is excellent for a spring dish as it incorporates both fresh spinach and fresh asparagus.  If you know someone with chickens, their eggs will complete an enjoyable morning.

Asparagus and Spinach Frittata

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 leeks, whites only, thinly sliced
8 large eggs, beaten
1 cup blanched asparagus tips
2 cups cooked fresh spinach, squeezed dry
½ cup fresh basil, shiffonaded
4 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ tsp. kosher salt
¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup dry bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium-sized skillet over medium heat, melt the butter.  Add the leeks and sauté about 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and cool completely.  In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs with the leeks, asparagus, spinach, basil, goat cheese, Parmesan, salt and pepper.  Mix well.  Spray a 9 inch nonstick cake pan or springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Add the bread crumbs evenly, coating the pan.  Pour the egg mixture into pan.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until solid and a when an inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in the pan over a wire rack for 5 minutes.  Invert frittata onto a plate, then flip right side up onto a serving plate or remove sides of a springform pan and transfer to a serving plate.  Can be served warm or at room temperature.

Can you say mouthwatering without drooling?

As we say goodbye to April and its showers… we head into May’s vast assortment of lovely leafing trees along with multitudes of blossoms here at Smith Gilbert Gardens.  If you haven’t visited SGG recently, this is as close to a perfect time as you will find here.  Weather conditions are most pleasant and with all there is to see, now is the time for you to be here!  The vegetable garden has been planted; our orchid and begonia collections are on full display having been moved from their winter quarters.  Our Koi are actively celebrating the warmer weather swimming like languid clouds through the clear water.

And, that last sentence segues into this month’s staff pick, our beautiful Koi.  For those not familiar with the word, it’s the name for a very popular fish in Japan although it has its origins in China.  These very colorful carp are also known as Nishikigio.  This literally means brocaded carp.  Koi are direct descendants of an unattractive black fish called the Magoi or common carp that dates back 25,000+ years.  The first known descriptions of what are now Koi were written during the Chin Dynasty of China 265-316 A.D.  These old texts described their colors as white, red, black and blue.  Compared to their more humble origins, there is a veritable rainbow of color choices available for today’s hobbyists.

Initially the Chinese raised the common carp as food for thousands of years.  But then they began exporting them to Japan around the 17^th century.  The Chinese were the first to recognize the color mutations running through all carp populations and started the process of breeding them for their various hues.  However, the Japanese set the standard by which Koi are judged and graded nowadays.

Japanese farmers originally put carp in flooded rice paddies to control pests and to increase the amount of food produced.  Their goal was to have simultaneous food sources (rice and fish) from the same plot of land.  In today’s sustainable farming world, this is referred to as “process stacking”.  This term means the ability to produce multiple crops at the same time on the same ground.

Like their Chinese neighbors, the Japanese farmers noticed the color mutations in their fish and started selectively breeding to obtain differing patterns along with a multitude of diverse colors.  However, just as they did with bonsai, the Japanese gradually advanced the breeding process of Koi.  Transforming a food source to a living art form, Koi are now valued based on color, patterns, and a multitude of other qualifiers to determine their individual worth.

Show quality Koi can easily cost a couple thousand to several hundred thousand dollars.  Keep that in mind before you get any ideas about cornering the Koi market!  Like bonsai, this avocation takes years and years of study, breeding and practice to achieve true success.

If you are interested in having a Koi collection, stop by and we will be glad to show you the equipment setup in use on our pond in back of the Butler house.  We have a pump with a screen basket that feeds the water into a bio-filter where bacteria help break down the fish waste.  The pond water moves through a series of three UV lights to kill harmful microbes after which it is returned to the pond.  A separate pump on a different electrical circuit runs an aerator that makes bubbles to oxygenate the water.  Lastly, we have a skimmer box which traps large debris to insure the pump in-take will not be obstructed.   To keep marauding birds and other critters from doing their own fishing, the sides of the water feature are vertical for about twenty-four inches.  This depth dissuades wading creatures from eating our pets!

A Koi water feature is an entertaining, peaceful addition to the landscape.  However a good alternate choice is goldfish.  Also a type of carp, goldfish are not as expensive in terms of cost and maintenance.

May is a miraculous month at SGG, hope to see you here enjoying it.   As always, come by and feed the Koi… their cheerios are waiting for your visit.

Black Throated Green Warbler

by Pat Pepper

April 20 was my first Backyard Birding class at SGG for 2013. I was delighted to meet Judith, one of SGG’s volunteers.  My husband was also present. He is not the avid birder I am, but he is a good spotter.

Judith had birded before but told me she was a little rusty, so we started from the beginning. During the first hour of the class, we watched a Power Point presentation of the birds we were most likely to see in the gardens. The second hour we scouted out the feeders and the gardens. It was a fantastic hour in the gardens!

Spring Migration is in full bloom. I spent all of last week on Dauphin Island, Alabama. This island is a bird migration trap. Birds coming mainly from the Yucatan peninsula will stop at Dauphin Island to replenish their fat supply after their arduous trip across the Gulf of Mexico. I visited a bird banding at Fort Morgan where bird after bird had their body fat measured. Every bird I saw had a zero body fat count. They were anxious to get back to the trees and feed on insects.

Male Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Seeing the birds on Dauphin Island (my companions and I saw 135 different species) was a nice preview of what was on the way to the Atlanta area. I had seen Rose-breasted Grosbeaks on the island, and we were very excited to see a beautiful male at one of the SGG feeders. I was showing Judith how to adjust her new binoculars when, looking through just one lens, I spotted the Grosbeak at the feeder. We interrupted our adjusting to look at this bird more closely. This is a bird you will see in this area only during spring and fall migration. It will continue further north but can be seen in summer in the North Georgia Mountains.

The female Rose-breasted looks quite different from the male.

Female Rose Breasted Grosbeak

The word “grosbeak” means “large (gross) beak.” You may be tempted to think the female is a large sparrow, but look closely at the beak. Cardinals, though not called grosbeaks, have a similar large bill.

We also saw White-breasted and Brown-headed nuthatches along with Cardinals, Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, and House Finches at the feeders.

We then went to the grassy area in front of the hummingbird feeders. The Chaste Tree behind the feeders was a cornucopia of birds. First, we saw two male cardinals chasing each other. Then I spotted a female Black-throated Green Warbler. At the top of this article is a picture of the male. The female is similar but doesn’t have the very black throat. Then a Brown Thrasher flew in, and, surprising us all, a Cooper’s Hawk flew in followed by a harassing Blue Jay.

Cedar Waxwing

After the Cooper’s Hawk flew away, we spotted about twenty Cedar Waxwings sitting atop the Yaupon Hollies in front of the Hiram-Butler house on the east side.

We continued into the Conifer Garden where we saw two more White-breasted Nuthatches and a couple of warblers that I could only see the bottoms of so I hesitated making a positive ID.

We saw the Cooper’s Hawk again. This time he was being mobbed by American Crows and, once again, flew off. It is always difficult to watch hawks and owls eat smaller birds, but Judith correctly noted that we have to see this behavior as the food chain in action. She also said she now had a little more sympathy for them because she had not noticed before how often they get harassed or “mobbed” by other birds, mostly corvids (crows and jays).

The second hour of the class just “flew” by. So much was going on that we didn’t have to walk very far to see not only great birds, but also the dynamics of bird life.

If you have been thinking about trying out the exciting sport of birding, now is the time to do it. You will see many birds that will be gone in a few weeks and that are very active right now. The best viewing times are from sun-up to about 11am then from about 4 pm to 7 pm.

I hope you will join me for my next Backyard Birding class at SGG on May 18 at 8 am. We will begin inside the Hiram-Butler House.

Happy Birding!

Pat Pepper

There is nothing prettier than large drifts of daffodils, a signal that spring is just right around the corner. In North Carolina many highway intersections have been heavily planted with a mixture of daffodils and daylilies. That is a perfection combination. As the daffodil leaves start to turn yellow after blooming the daylilies are just getting tall enough to hide the yellowing leaves. Also daylily leaves produce some shade when the bulbs are dormant resulting in cooler soil. Daffodil leaves should never be cut off until they are completely brown as they create energy for next year blooms. Another poor idea is tying daffodil leaves into bundles. This suppresses energy production. Thus daylily/daffodil plantings are ideal.

But this is not altogether a happy story. In theory when daffodils are planted they should multiply and keep multiplying for years. This is referred to as naturalization. However that does not always happen for a multitude of reasons. One cause of naturalization failure is that the fancy hybrids-cultivars are not bred to naturalize but have been selected for bloom size and color. A friend explained that they do not have the ‘genetic guts’ to survive. Orchid growers use pollination techniques to create new and exciting plants. Very few of these new cultivars could survive in the wild where the parents came from. They were not bred for naturalization. Other examples are roses and rhododendrons.

At my garden in Kennesaw we planted thousands of daffodils every year. We had a one-man gasoline powered posthole digger with a 4-inch auger. Huge numbers could be planted quickly. One person drilled the hole, another dropped in the bulb and the other pushed the dirt back into the hole. Very few of these bulbs lasted over 5 years. There are not many daffodils that survive in high temperatures and moist to wet soil. An exception is Jonquils. These bulbs like hot summer soil.

So what is necessary for daffodil survival?

Perfectly draining soil. If planting in clay put sand down in the hole or even fine gravel. Bulbs rot easily. Plant at proper depth.

Choose sites that drain well such as slopes. Do not plant where water accumulates.

Plant in full sun. Do not plant next to shrubs or other plants that will eventually create shade.

If planting in a lawn do not use weed and feed as the weed suppressants may inhibit bulb growth.

Use fertilizers such as Bulb Booster, which has the formula of 9-9-6 or something similar. Some recommend putting a small amount in each hole when planting, others suggest applying fertilizer in the early spring when the leaves first appear and other say apply in the fall.

Never cut off leaves until they are completely brown. If you have planted them in grass keep the lawn mower off of them until the leaves are completely brown. Opinions vary about cutting off spent blooms. Daffodils do produce seeds that just might grow.

Choose a variety that will naturalize. Most retailers and mail order specialty bulb houses will not be able to tell you what selections will naturalize in your area. One variety that naturalizes here may not naturalize up north and vice a versa. Catalogs will list which selections are good naturalizers but not where. For example in Kennesaw Ice Follies lasted the longest. The highway department here has found that Ice Follies, St. Kerverne and Carlton seem to last.

Driving down a country road you often see daffodils at old home sites with huge oak trees and large boxwoods. Most often these are species daffodils or jonquils. They have the ‘genetic guts’ to naturalize as they can survive in warm summer soil.

The Highway Department has done a great job interplanting daffodils and daylilies. It is very exciting to see the succession of bloom. Why have some of the daffodils along the expressways disappeared or are thinning out as shown in the photographs? There is no way to know for sure without a careful study. I would suspect bulb rot as the main problem assuming good naturalizers were selected. There are uncommon diseases and voles that can do damage. You cannot rule out herbicides if it is sprayed on leaves.

There are daffodil societies. I know some of these folks and they are extremely knowledgeable. They can tell you what varieties naturalize in a specific area. Perhaps there are people here in Western North Carolina who could make recommendations?

If I were going to try to naturalize daffodils I would try to find the old timey species. I would not count on the fancy cultivars to naturalize.

Mail order sources (there are many others):

Mitch Daffodils in Oregon
Heirloom Bulbs in Michigan
Brent and Beck’s Bulbs in Virginia
Old House Gardens in Michigan
Southern Bulb Company in Texas
The Terra Ceila Farms in Pantego N.C.

Varieties recommend by three Daffodil Society Members:

Minnie Hume
Telamonius Plenus
Phoenix doubles
Jonquils
Queen of the North
Fortune
Sweetness
Ice Follies
Fortune
Dutch Master
Carlton
St. Kerverne

There are three terms that get confused — Narcissus, Daffodil and Jonquil. Narcissus and daffodil mean exactly the same. Narcissus is actually the scientific genus name and daffodil is the common name. The scientific folks have divided daffodils into 13 descriptive divisions. Jonquils are in Group 7 characteristically producing several flowers per bulb, strong scent and rounded foliage. They are more accurately called Narcissus jonquilla.

With the Narcissus it is trial and error. You will get better results if you stick with the heirlooms and species. But that is not to say the fancy cultivars should be avoided, but they might well be gone in 5 years. Thank you DOT for all the great displays.

Dr. Bob Gilbert’s articles are being reprinted with the permission of the Franklin Press in Franklin, North Carolina. Dr. Bob Gilbert is co-founder of Smith Gilbert Gardens, Kennesaw, Georgia.

Tung Oil Tree

by Shon Cameron

Alert!  If flowers are your favorite… now is the time to come see Smith-Gilbert.  As March transitions into April, the Garden is exploding with brilliant colors.  Our beautiful deciduous magnolias and bright daffodils are leading the way into spring.   Come see firsthand the difference a month can make in the garden world!

This month’s staff pick comes with a word of caution.  However, don’t let that dissuade you from adding this tree to your landscape.   As with many worthy, but lesser known plants this is the tale of a majestic tree that is often over looked even here at the Garden.  May I introduce you to the Tung Oil Tree.  For those scientifically inclined, the Latin name is Aleurites fordii and it is part of the Euphorbia Family (Euphorbiaceae).  Our incredible specimen resides on the slope just above the bee hives.  Perhaps that’s why sometimes it’s overlooked. 

Tung Oil is native to southern China with its natural range extending through Burma and into northern Vietnam.  Although this tree has many worldwide industrial uses, it is also a great landscape plant for any garden.  Reaching a maximum height of about 40 feet, it has a spreading crown and the trunk has a smooth textured bark.  Spaced in an alternating pattern, the leaves of this deciduous plant are heart shaped and can grow up to 6 inches wide.  The flowers are rather spectacular and white with a reddish rose center.  Known as monoecious inflorescences, male and female flowers are borne on the same tree.

The fruit that forms are spherical to heart-shaped pods containing 4 to 5 seeds.  These seeds have a tough outer shell and an oily inner heart.   That’s where the tree gets its common name – Tung Oil along with the products made from oil that is extracted from the seed.  Tung oil is used to condition and protect wood.  Other products made from this tree’s seeds include lacquers, paints, varnishes and even linoleum.    During the Second World War, the Chinese used the oil as a substitute for automobile fuel.

For those with small children, a note of caution as all parts of the tree is poisonous IF consumed.  Just one seed can be fatal if ingested.  However, don’t let that be a deterrent from using this incredible landscape tree as a focal point or for adding unbelievable beauty to your landscape.

Over the years this tree has become part of Georgia history as there were plantations of these trees in the Gainesville area.  Although the plantations no longer exist, the trees ‘escaped’ cultivation and have naturalized in the area.  Another fairly common tree, the Mulberry, did exactly the same thing having survived efforts to exploit the production of silk hundreds of years ago in the South.  But that, my friends, is another story.

Come see this tree (and the Mulberry too!) and consider adding something special to your garden.  Consider this an invitation to come and chat about this tree or any of the other many unique plants that exist here at Smith-Gilbert!

If you find you love being at the Gardens, please consider becoming a member or joining us as a volunteer.  As a participant in the American Horticultural Society’s reciprocal program, belonging to Smith-Gilbert Gardens entitles you to free admission to over 200 other American parks and gardens.

If you find you like being outside while learning, there are other ways for you to support our Garden.  Volunteers especially enjoy our Monday (9 to 11 a.m. or so) work sessions where they help with general horticultural care (including weeding, we’ve got just about any activity associated with gardening available) followed by an educational walk through the Garden.   Our community of volunteers provides important assistance to Garden operations in several areas: special events, tour guides, or greeting visitors as they enter the Hiram Butler house.  These are just a few of the opportunities available to energetic and enthusiastic volunteers!

For those who are interested in becoming a Docent (tour guide), a specialized five week training session is held twice a year. This class will equip you with the information you need to lead a successful tour.

For more information on any of our volunteer activities, call Jim Parks, Volunteer Coordinator at 770-919-0248 or email him at jparks@smithgilbertgardens.com.

Join our volunteer family!

This time of year strawberries are sweet and abundant.  As summer makes her presence felt, Georgia peaches will be in our hands.  Of course, shortcake is memorably paired with strawberries and peaches make great cobbler.  However, if you want a different way to appreciate these delectable fruits, the tasty choice is the much loved Pound Cake.  Many cooks have their own favorite recipe for this classic.  For me, I love to look at alternate recipes and see how they compare to the method I learned from my aunt and mother.  Although I have tried various combinations and suggestions over the years, I’ve not found anything to replace my beloved ‘Mamma’s Pound Cake’.  Based on my experiments, tweaking, and personal touches, I haven’t found anything better than what I inherited decades ago.   This cake with its distinctive almond flavor pairs beautifully with either of those favorite spring and summer fruits, strawberries and peaches.  Forget processed toppings as flavor is best with sweetened whipped cream or a good quality vanilla ice cream.  If you are able to enjoy this dessert privately, feel free to omit eating utensils too!

Mamma’s Pound Cake – (Important advice:  Have all ingredients at room temperature.)

2 sticks butter
½ cup (8 Tbsp.) Crisco
3 cups sugar
5 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 tsp. Almond extract
3 cups flour
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking powder

Cream the butter and Crisco together until light and fluffy.  Gradually add the 3 cups sugar and mix until light, fluffy and very well blended.  (Don’t rush this point if you want that nice rise and crust on your Pound Cake.)  Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until the yellow is fully incorporated.  Put the teaspoons of Vanilla and Almond extracts into the one cup of milk.  Mix all the dry ingredients together.  Slowly add the dry ingredients alternating with the milk mixture in 3 batches, beginning and ending with the flour.  Don’t over mix at this point, but do make sure it is well combined.  Carefully scrape bowl to be certain.  Place this mixture into a greased and floured tube pan or 2 loaf pans (grease and flour with shortening and flour; do not use a spray product).  Bake at 300 – 325 (know how your oven cooks) for at least 1 ½ hours.  Allow at least an hour before peeking at your efforts.  Waiting longer than sixty minutes is challenging as the smell of this cake baking will make you want to open the door sooner

Of course, the results are wonderful enjoyed warm just out of the oven or later toasted for breakfast with a little butter.  And, as always, relish with your favorite lightly sweetened fresh fruit!

Red Shouldered Hawk

by Pat Pepper

On Saturday, March 16, I was birding the gardens looking for any early spring migrants. The pine warblers were singing in many spots in the gardens, but they have been here all winter. I had decided I would write about the pine warbler as I was going back to my car, which was parked in the back lot. I was on the gravel path between the Bonsai Garden and the Vegetable Garden when I heard the cry of a Red-shouldered hawk.

I looked up and found him in an oak tree between the Bonsai Garden and the Hiram-Butler House. He was calling and pecking at some moss or lichen on a branch. An American Crow made a few perfunctory dives at him but then flew away. I then heard another Red-shouldered hawk calling just north of the one in the oak.

Red Shouldered Hawk

It was another male challenging the oak-tree hawk. The two hawks began chasing each other and flew off in a westerly direction. I then heard the call of a third Red-shoulder. It was a female perched in an oak by the gravel path near the front gate. As I watched her, I saw her mate quickly swoop in and perch on her back. To the victor go the spoils.

In all my years of birding I had never witnessed this event so clearly. Fighting and loving—a natural drama played out right before my eyes. The next time I go to the gardens, I will look for this couple’s nest.

Both the male and female help build a new nest or refurbish a previous year’s nest. They often return to the same territory year after year. They usually build their nest in broad-leafed trees in the crotch of the main trunk often near water. The wetland on the west side of the gardens is perfect for them.

The female will lay 2-5 eggs, which take 32-40 days to incubate. After hatching, the chicks will remain in the nest for 42-49 days. If you are in the area where I described seeing this pair, look up into some of the oaks (a conifer is possible, but not preferred) for a stick nest about 2 feet wide. I hope all goes well for them.

Red Tailed Hawk

The Red-shouldered Hawk is a Buteo. Buteos are larger, stockier hawks. A Red-tailed Hawk is also a Buteo. The smaller, more agile hawks such as Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned are Accipiters. The Accipters are more likely to prey upon the birds who visit your feeders. Buteos prefer small mammals, snakes, lizards, and frogs. That does not mean, however, that they will not eat small birds. I walked around the side of my yard the other day and flushed a Red-shoulder who had been hiding between my two A/C condensers. He was staking out my birdfeeder.

A Red-shouldered Hawk differs from a Red-tailed Hawk in three very basic ways. The Red-shouldered adult has orange bars on its chest and belly, narrow white bands on its tail, and translucent crescents at the tips of its wings (a very useful ID marking when looking at them flying above you).

The Red-tailed Hawk has a streaked belly-band and no bands on its red tail. Neither does it have the translucent crescents on its wings.

Red Tailed Hawk

The Red-shouldered Hawk is more prolific here in Georgia than the Red-tail. Red-tails are more common in the West. Because we see so many Red-shoulders here in Georgia, it is hard to believe that they are actually endangered or threatened in many eastern states, notably Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

Let’s hope our resident SGG Red-shoulders continue to prosper.

Here is a link to the Red-shouldered Hawk’s vocal: http://allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/id

I hope you will join me at my Backyard Birding Class on April 20, 2013, at 8 am. We will learn a few things about backyard birds, binoculars, and how to spot birds in the field. Please call SGG for more details.

Happy Birding!

Pat Pepper

Garden Stories

Spring fever at the gardens! We are starting up our Garden Stories series, which will take place every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 10:30am. A garden-related topic will be highlighted and depending on the theme there will be a combination of stories, art or craft, rhymes, dance and organized play. The Garden Stories series is geared towards children aged 3-6 and their caregiver.

The fee is $7 per child which includes an activity fee. Adults pay regular admission; additional participating children are $5 each.

Registration is greatly appreciated! It will ensure that we prepare ample craft material for our youngest participants. You may register for the Garden Stories on our website or by sending an email to stefaniehaerynck@smithgilbertgardens.com.

Our topic for April’s Garden Stories is “Growing Seeds”. After starting with an age appropriate story and some fun songs on growing seeds, we will be discovering what secrets are hidden within a seed. This inspiration will set the artist free in our youngest attendants as they will process and express how a seeds grows into a plant and beautiful flower by using some art and craft material.

The best experience will be sowing your own seed and taking it home to see it grow into a healthy plant!

For more information on the Garden Stories, please click here.

Sweetgum Claude the Caterpillar

Take a moment to break up your busy school or sports game schedule to enjoy the gardens. Pick up your copy of Claude Caterpillar’s scavenger hunt and check out some cool spots in the gardens. Our Sweetgum Claude will help you discover all parts of the garden all while you are marveling at the fresh spring pastel tints!

Don’t forget to bring your garden journal. It is absolutely fabulous here. Fresh green tiny leaves are bursting out the buds…, as I am scanning the garden it seems like a wild and very enthusiastic painter passed through the gardens. Blink and you see yellow, blink and you see pink, blink and you see purple, blink again and you see white. A bunch of fresh spring pastel tints are coloring the gardens. I can assure you it is an ongoing display, whenever you come visit us this spring you will definitely be rewarded with a range of color.

Dad’s and happy kids!

Mother’s Day Gifts, Saturday, May 4th, 10:30 am

Don’t forget to plan on surprising Mom on Mother’s day! Why not coming to the Gardens and enjoy some good time together and create a very unique gift for mom? All Dads are invited to bring their children to the Gardens to make cards and gifts for mom.  As you can imagine, gifts will be botanical in nature and probably include your child’s handprints!  If diamonds are needed to make mom happy, Dads will need to go elsewhere.  Every child will go home with a handmade card and gift for mom.  Click here to learn more »